Hingham Timeline

This is to guide you through the rich tapestry of Hingham; we list the important (and not so important) events that have shaped the Town.

925

Hingham is recorded as belonging to King Athelstan – grandson of Alfred the Great.

1066

At the time of the Norman Conquest, Hingham was a royal manor.

1264

Royal licence granted for the holding of Fairs.

14th Century

Parish Church of St Andrews built. Remigus of Hethersett was the Rector (1316-1359)

1483

Simon Lyster endowed the John Lyster Almshouse.

1506

John Pyshode, Alderman of Norwich, ordered in his Will that a Cross of Free-Stone should be set up in the Cross Way of Hingham Wood.

1633 – 4th September

John Haynes (later to become Governor of Connecticut) arrived in America on The Griffin.

1633 – 4th September

Theophilus Cushing arrived in America on the Griffin.

1635 – 15th June

Thomas Chubbock, Edmund Hobart and his family and Ralph Smith arrived on the Elizabeth Bonaventure.

1635

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1637 – 20th June

John Cutler, his wife Mary and their seven children and John Tower arrived on the Mary Anne.

1637 – 20th June

Samuel Lincoln (great great great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln) arrived on the John and Dorothy.

1638 – 10th August

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1727

Foundation of Hingham Endowed Grammar School by William Parlett esq.

1836

Building of the Congregational Chapel.

1871

Town lighted by gas produced by The Hingham Gas Company.

1875

Public Elementary School opened.

1885 – 5th December

Murder of Henry Springhall on ringers Lane.

1886 – 10th February

Execution by hanging of John Thurston for the murder of Henry Springhall.

1900 – 10th February

Building of the Primitive Methodist Chapel.

1911 – 10th September

Formal presentation of Mounting Block from Hingham, Norfolk to Hingham MA to mark the 275th Anniversary of the founding of Hingham MA.

1913 – 8th November

Formal presentation of a 2 ton block of granite from Hingham MA to Hingham Norfolk.

1913

Public School enlarged.

1919 – 15th October

John Davis, the American Ambassador unveiled the bust of Abraham Lincoln in St Andrew’s Church.

1921 – 15th June

Opening of the first Lincoln Hall.

1940 – 26th December

Wireless broadcast from Hingham MA to Hingham, Norfolk.

1942 – 23rd July

Second wireless broadcast fom Hingham MA.

1944 – January

452nd Bomber Group USAF arrived at Deopham Green Airfield.

1954

Construction of the Bus Shelter to Commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

1979 – May

Unveiling of the plaque dedicated to the memory of those who died from 452nd Bomber Group USAF.

2013 – 8th November

Rededication of the Granite Block on the Centenary of its presentation.

Are you a former Hingham resident?

Did you or some of your past relatives used to live in Hingham or have stories or photos of Hingham days gone by that you’d like to share?

Send us your memories by visiting our Share page and if you have scanned photographs you’d like to share with us (and have published on the site) send them to us by clicking this photograph submission email link.